Who: Betty Smith, a physician assistant at WellSpan Family Medicine – North Fourth Street, in Lebanon, and John Vadovsky, Betty’s patient, who is from Annville.
What: John wanted to propose to his girlfriend Amber Tanno, who often goes with him to his patient visits at the North Fourth Street office.
John decided to pop the question to Amber at the North Fourth Street practice because of his relationship with Betty. John says he clicked with Betty right away, noting they have similarities in their ethnic backgrounds. John is part Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian. Betty’s grandma was born in Warsaw, Poland. Betty also has been straightforward and compassionate with John, who has high blood pressure that needs to be monitored.
“She is just absolutely marvelous,” John says of Betty. “I pretty much have that feeling of a bond that is like home. It’s something that is hard to describe in words. My mother passed away when I was 4. Betty feels like a mother to me, kind of tough but caring.”
On the big day, Amber accompanied John to the North Fourth Street office and sat in the waiting room, while the office’s team members did their best to suppress their excitement and not give away what was about to happen. After she saw John for his visit, Betty went out to collect Amber and bring her back to the exam room, telling Amber she wanted to tell her about John’s blood pressure medication.
When Betty brought Amber into the exam room, John got down on one knee with a ring and said, “I have been diagnosed with a broken heart and the test revealed that you’re the cure.”
After Amber said yes, there were flowers, courtesy of one of the North Fourth Street team members, and lots of clapping, cheering, and tears. Amber said she will never forget her exam room proposal, noting, “I was so honored. It made me feel like a celebrity, the way the people in the office played a part in my special day!”
Words to live by: Betty says, “I try to treat my patients like I would treat my own family. If my family member has medical problems the best thing for them is to be straightforward with them. I want to show John that I care about him. I could tell he wanted guidance and he opened up so easily that I was surprised. It’s been a good relationship.”
Betty was happy that relationship led to John asking her to be part of his and Amber’s big day.
“I think it’s cool,” Betty says. “I wanted him to know I’m there for him. It was a fun thing to do.”
